Chapter 18

Zhou Kaiyun left after making those harsh words, and the situation became even more difficult for the three people, who originally had few people willing to form a team.

Cui Youyi also realized that this method of waiting and sitting back would not work, so she had to settle for the second best option of defeating them one by one - visiting the people on the list given by Wang Jun one by one.

Between suffering alone and suffering with a group of people, Cui Youyi decisively chose to suffer together with three people.

After all, this is a team effort, and she can't be looked down upon alone!

The three of them divided the people on the list and went their separate ways to look for their teammates.

Returning to Xiaoguan Village again, Cui Youyi felt a lot of emotion.

Last time, in order to save people, I suffered a lot in Xiaoguan Village, and even made a friendly guest appearance as a vicious lady.

Thinking of the angry faces of those aunts, she felt that she had buried a big bomb for herself last time.

Who can tell her why she is so lucky that she meets the lady who spoke up for Lin Yinniang last time as soon as she arrives at Xiaoguan Village?

The old lady thought that something had happened to Lin Yinniang and that Cui Youyi had come to her house on purpose to "return the goods". She went back and asked people to surround Cui Youyi.

Cui Youyi was finally let go after much persuasion. She just wanted to ask about ice sculptures, but she was rejected and scolded as soon as she opened her mouth. In the end, a "kind-hearted" old lady quietly reminded her.

"You little girl, don't talk about ice sculptures in our village."

Cui Youyi was puzzled. Although the system told her that Xiaoguan Village had a prejudice against ice sculptures, she really didn't understand. Didn't Ningguta respect ice sculptures? How could there be a place that disdained ice sculptures?

Cui Youyi tugged at the old lady's sleeve, secretly handed her a handful of prepared melon seeds, and quietly asked, "Why?"

The old lady quickly took the handful of melon seeds and looked around as if she had found a kindred spirit.

In an instant, his smile became even brighter. He looked at Cui Youyi as if she were his own sister. He took her hand and walked under the tree, as if he wanted to have a long chat with her.

"Nizi, I just think you look kind." The old lady chewed her melon seeds. "I don't tell this to everyone."

Cui Youyi said: "Auntie, I feel like we get along just by looking at you. This is fate."

"Besides, I didn't hear anything. We were just eating sunflower seeds together!"

The old lady was satisfied and after making sure that there was no one around, she told Cui Youyi about this old story.

"About ten years ago, most people in our village actually made a living from ice sculptures."

"For those with a little talent, our old village chief will find a way to send them out to learn from masters."

At this point, the old lady paused. Of course, those who were sent out would have to come back and make some contributions later. The old lady thought about it and decided to omit this part. Although she did not speak, she gave Cui Youyi a look that said, "You know what I mean."

Cui Youyi understood the response in a second, and the old lady continued.

"At that time, all the men here would do odd jobs with the ice harvesting team. After all, it was a way to earn some money, and we women would just help out. The villagers didn't become rich from ice carving, but at least it improved their lives."

Whenever she thought of the past days, the old lady felt heartbroken.

Ever since the villagers stopped doing anything related to ice sculptures, their lives have become much harder. The chances of eating meat throughout the year have become visibly fewer, and those that are uncooked have to be dug up from the soil to eat.

"Well, the worst thing happened ten years ago. The old village chief's son went to work in Zhou's ice-harvesting team. Somehow he fell into an ice hole. That was the only child in the old village chief's family." The old lady became visibly angry when she said this.

Cui Youyi: ??? Falling into an ice hole? Isn't that how she died? It really makes me feel so profound.

Thinking of this, Cui Youyi felt a little upset. She was actually hit by a spinning knife while eating a melon.

"The Zhou family again? Didn't they give an explanation?" Cui Youyi made her position clear and determined not to let the old lady misunderstand that she was not on their side.

"They gave us a bullshit explanation. They paid three taels of silver and acted as if nothing had happened. Someone came back saying the old village chief's son was murdered. We tried to get an explanation, but we were all beaten back. On the way back, those who went to get an explanation inexplicably fell into the lake. Some died, some were injured."

Thinking of the tragedy that happened, the old lady is still frightened. Although it is not a good idea to think like this, who wouldn't be glad that her husband is not the leader? Otherwise, if the Zhou family retaliates, the whole family will have no chance of survival.

"So the people in the village will never touch ice sculptures again? Aren't the Zhao and Hou families said to be quite kind to others?" Cui Youyi intuitively felt that there was more to the story, and fearing that the old lady wouldn't tell it, she started a new conversation.

The old lady clapped her hands and became even more angry: "People in our village don't work in the same house, but whenever we go out, we often come back injured for unknown reasons!"

The old lady hesitated to speak, and Cui Youyi became even more confused. What was going on? Could the Zhou family really be so well-connected?

"Auntie, I feel friendly when I see you." Cui Youyi took out the cloth bag she carried with her and gave away all the remaining melon seeds.

"Nizi, I'm only telling you this." The old lady sighed, "They say this place is weird, and that these ice sculptures are unlucky for the people in our village."

"None of those who went out to learn skills have come back. They all said they encountered trouble outside."

"Tell me, who dares to touch the ice sculpture?"

"Tsk tsk, Auntie only told you so much because she sees that you are smart. You can let Yinniang do rough work or miscellaneous chores with her, but don't let her do anything related to ice sculptures."

"If you hadn't bought her out in time last time, the village might not have had room for her when she returned. Anyway, don't think everything is fine just because you have her indenture. This involves a matter of life and death for the entire village, and people won't be so kind."

Cui Youyi: "Auntie, you told me all this..." Shouldn't this be kept secret?

The old lady scoffed softly, "Aunt Wang, you know everything that's happened over the years, and you still believe this nonsense? These things are obviously the work of the Zhou family. I guess they're just afraid that people in our village will bring up the past and start something fishy. Living in this village, everyone is either confused or pretending to be confused."

Cui Youyi couldn't help but give the old lady a thumbs up: "You are this!"

The two were chatting halfway when they heard a commotion in front of them. They looked at each other, and Cui Youyi took the old lady's arm and went out to eat melon.

Cui Youyi’s good mood lasted only three seconds, and she exploded - Lin Yinniang was tied up and brought back by the villagers!

Cui Youyi rushed forward and wanted to negotiate, but the old lady pulled her back.

"Dalinzi, Ergouzi, what are you doing!" The old lady went out cursing and started to scold the two leaders, "Yinniang is a maid bought by a wealthy family. You brought her back and asked for compensation because you think the family has too much money!"

"Aunt Wang, you don't know this." Dalinzi was too lazy to explain to the loudmouthed aunts in the village, but he had to explain, "This damn girl went to the next village to find people to form a team to participate in the ice sculpture competition, and we caught her red-handed. Isn't this bad luck for us?"

"That's right. Although she signed a contract to sell herself, she came from our village after all. It concerns the survival of the village. How can we not deal with it?" Er Gouzi was very disdainful. How dare a rich family come to their village to snatch people?

A Wealthy Family: Cui Youyi: ...

"I signed the contract to sell myself and my household registration has been changed. Naturally, I will go with my master." Lin Yinniang was unwilling to be outdone. She was of course aware of the prejudices in the village, and she also knew that if she didn't explain the matter clearly, she would be in trouble when she returned.

She originally thought that since she had escaped last time, the villagers would not cause her any trouble, but who knew that on the way out to distribute the notice, she would meet people from the village, including Ergouzi and his group who had evil intentions towards her.

Er Gouzi slapped her directly and said: "You bitch, do you have the right to speak?" Who told you to disobey me? This time you have committed a big taboo. Let's see who can save her!

Cui Youyi couldn't help it any longer, so she took a stick and hit Ergouzi from behind.

"I'll beat you to death for not following the law! You dare to touch my people!"

Aunt Wang was stunned, and the people surrounding Lin Yinniang didn't react either.

Ergouzi, who was beaten, became furious and rushed forward to beat Cui Youyi. Cui Youyi immediately raised her stick, as if to say, "If you come again, I will deal with you."

"Are you all stupid?" Er Gouzi didn't dare to act rashly, and was a little angry. "You just watched me get beaten up, why don't you take her away too!"

"You damn bitch, don't even think about leaving Xiaoguan Village unless you pay me compensation."

Everyone seemed to have just woken up from a dream and wanted to surround Cui Youyi.

"I wonder who dares to come over here!" Cui Youyi was very alert. "I bought Lin Yinniang with my own money. You are robbing me and threatening me. I am right to sue the county government."

"Our ice sculpture team has the approval of the county magistrate. It was he who asked us to find people to form a team. If you have any objections to the county magistrate's order, go to the county government office and talk to him!"

Cui Youyi was full of vigor and didn't care whether these people believed her or not. She started threatening them as soon as she opened her mouth: "We still have to go back today to report our progress to the county magistrate. If you go back too late, you'll lose your lives!"

Ergouzi wanted to rush up and teach Cui Youyi a lesson, but the man called Dalinzi by Aunt Wang had some concerns. His family was related to the village chief and he had taken some benefits from him. Naturally, he didn't want to cause trouble for his own family now.

After all, the village chief has to make decisions on all matters big and small in the village. If what this woman said is true, he will probably be beaten to death by his family when he returns.

Aunt Wang naturally knew the inside story and had a close relationship with Cui Youyi: "Dalinzi, are you stupid? How can you make the decision on such a big matter? Go call the village chief!"

What a fool! He only knows how to stir up trouble and never clean up his mess. He has a dull mind but always wants to take on the responsibility! At critical moments, he still has to rely on Aunt Wang for advice. He must ask his mother for an egg as a reward when he gets home.

"Don't shout, I'm coming."

The village chief came with a few elders, leaning on a cane.

Seeing that the village chief did not seem unreasonable, Cui Youyi was no longer as aggressive as before, but her momentum remained.

"Village chief, you have to give me justice. I have already bought this man. Why should I be pulled back to teach him a lesson?" Cui Youyi spoke first.

This person has preconceived impressions and speaks first to express his or her own views. Although this cannot achieve the effect of reversing right and wrong, it can indeed influence other people's basic judgment of things.

Although the village chief is from Xiaoguan Village, if he intends to cover up for someone, all this will be in vain. But we have to give it a try to have hope. What if the village chief is a good person?

Especially after communicating with Aunt Wang just now, Cui Youyi could feel that the villagers’ attitudes towards ice sculptures were actually polarized.

She guessed that there were too many voices against the ice sculptures, and others who had different ideas would habitually remain silent.

When she came here, she also passed by some villages and could clearly feel that their houses were newer and more windproof and frost-resistant than those in Xiaoguan Village. Doesn't this mean that the economic conditions of other villages are better than those of Xiaoguan Village?

The system values ​​ice sculptures so much, doesn't this mean that this place can only make a fortune from ice sculptures? If they continue as they are, they will only get poorer and poorer.

The opportunity was right before their eyes, how could they not be tempted? Cui Youyi didn't believe it.

Moreover, if the village chief really opposed ice sculptures, Aunt Wang would not dare to talk about the old story with others easily.

Cui Youyi was betting that the village chief also wanted to rely on ice sculptures to help the villagers live a good life again.

After she persuaded the head of Xiaoguan Village, she would work with Wang Jun to come up with a solution to allow the people of Xiaoguan Village to use ice sculptures to improve their lives this year.

She believed this must be a new beginning.